The Dudes

The Dudes

The Dudes’ new album, "Blood Guts Bruises Cuts" isn’t just a full-on rock and roll album, for the band it’s way of life. Singer-songwriter Dan Vacon wears his heart way out on his sleeve, and he’s expert at putting his life stories to music with sharp hooks and heavy harmonies. Go to to learn more about the album at www.thedudes.ca.

Let me start off a little in the beginning, with How did you guys get together as a band? DV: Ok. It started off with me and Bob in high school and we actually made the band for the talent show. We wanted to just rule the talent show. That’s how we started. And funny enough, we didn’t make it to the second round and the girl who won actually sings the national anthem at the Calgary Flames [hockey team] games now.

Well you’re in good company I guess. What was the musical environment like in Canada at the time you were growing up? DV: Oh, man it’s hard to say. You know I started going to see like punk rock shows ever since I was you know fifteen or fourteen years old and we had a rad all ages scene and that’s kind of how I started cutting my teeth. And I was like dude, I think I can do that. Got my first real six string when I was sixteen and just kind of been plugging away ever since.

There is a nod to Cheap Trick’s “Dream Police” on the song “Girl Police” with that lead lyric. Were they one of your favorite groups growing up? DV: Oh yeah. My family is huge into music and stuff all the time I guess. I definitely got the classic rock influence in me. I got raised right you know.

Is your life anything like the “Girl Police” video? You know, sneaking around to play in a band?DV: Yeah. That is my house [in the video]. That’s pretty much what goes on. We had a great summer. We’re taking it easy for the winter. You can’t really go like that all the time.

Themes in this album are about love gone wrong and I found the song “Mr. Someone Else” very interesting. Is that something you’ve ever communicated to someone else in real life or is that an inner monologue that you just used as a lyric?DV: No. It’s real. But yeah, I never really acted on it. It was my inner struggle. Something you can’t really do anything about. Your friend’s got a rad girlfriend and you wish she was yours. But what are you going to do? That’s your buddy.

When you’re putting songs together, what do you find works best in the creative process? Do you write the jams, riffs and then the lyrics? Do you start with a story idea first?DV: Personally, you got to go even before that. Yeah… You gotta just be a wild person, willing to go there and get life as it comes. I just make sure that I get myself into lots of romantic trouble or just like party trouble. You’ve got to have stuff to write about. I keep my life open like that. Once I get the subject matter, I start. I always have this guitar sitting around. And then you take your life and you put it to the guitar. That’s what I do.

Speaking of your life riff, I know you guys like the extreme sports and I read that both you and your drummer Scott Ross broke bones? At the same intersection?DV: The same bike too.

Do you think this was like a message from the rock gods saying; don’t do extreme outdoor sports? Or do you think it’s just some strange coincidence?DV:Yeah. If it is a lesson from the powers that be, I’d say we haven’t learned anything.

Did you come up with the album title after all the accidents that have occurred or before?DV: That was funny. We always thought that was going to be the album [name] when we write the songs. We thought it sounded cool. You know, it sort of represented the bad ass [attitude]. It was supposed to be about touring and partying. And what kind of toll that can take on your life. I broke my collar bone the first time two weeks after the album came out and a week before our first tour across Canada. And as soon as we got back from that Scott started messing himself up. After we got back from Montreal, Scott got hit by a car.

Oh my god, is he okay? Does he have broken legs or something? DV: Somehow he avoided a broken leg, but his leg is totally messed up – he can’t walk, he’s in one of those splints, right? We took one show off and he was right back on drums after that.

He’s a real trooper. It takes a lot to knock you guys out of anything. I read the girl in the video broke her ankle too, right?DV:Yeah, Megan… the poor girl. The bad luck has just come with this album.

I dunno, maybe with all this bad karma out of the way, something good will happen. You’ll get more word-of-mouth out on this album. Where will you be playing next?DV: We’re actually doing two nights to raising money to fix Scott’s teeth. He got his front teeth knocked out. So we are doing a benefit tomorrow. Then after the Christmas show we’ll do some one-offs.

Are you planning on touring the states at any point?DV:We’re waiting for someone to ask us, you know? It’s got to be on the horizon [for us].

Glad to hear it. You are also pretty well inked, and I always like to ask this of musicians with lots of tattoos… Do you have a favorite?DV:You know what? I don’t know.. but I’m really into birds it turns out. Covered in birds, man. One of my new one’s is my fave. A two headed bird with a black octopus heart coming out. Love is kinda like a two headed bird., dark on the inside if you know what I mean.